Page 19 of Justus
Don’tget me wrong, I’m not hung up on financial success, but after spending mychildhood as a broke foster kid, knowing I’ll never have to struggle to surviveis a huge relief.
“Whatcan I help you with, today?” the man asks.
“I’mshopping for an engagement ring.”
“Howexciting! Let me show you a few options.”
Twentyminutes later he hands me the ring box, and I tuck it into my pocket. As I’mpreparing to leave, I notice a display of mother and daughter necklaces.Amber’s birthday is two days away and though I know Sadie has bought her agift, this would be perfect for the two of them.
Watchingthem together has awakened something inside of me. Something sweet and sharp. Inever had a real mother, one who cared about me and Hannah, or put our needsfirst. I’m happy that Sadie has that, no matter how painful it’ll be when sheloses her. It takes another fifteen minutes to have the pendants engraved withtheir names and I know I need to hurry or they may come looking for me.
Imake a quick trip into the drugstore and grab a few items I don’t really need—exceptthe condoms—definitely need those. After getting a taste of Sadie in bed lastnight, I can’t wait to be inside her again. I have a few more days with her andI’m going to make it count.
“Abouttime,” Sadie exclaims when I return.
“Sorry,long line.”
“We’reready to go,” she replies, grabbing their bags.
“Ican walk to the car,” Amber insists, so we stop to return the scooters beforeheading back to her house.
Igrab the bags and take them inside while Sadie helps her mom out of the car.She hardly said a word on the way home. The last two days have just been toomuch for her. I’m coming back down the stairs when Sadie yells, “Justus! Doug!Call an ambulance!”
Sadiesits beside her mother on the front step, murmuring to her. “Just breathe, slowbreaths, help is coming.”
“Whathappened?” Doug demands, bounding out the front door, the phone still in hishand.
“She’shaving trouble breathing,” Sadie replies. The door slams shut behind Doug as hedarts back inside, returning with her oxygen tank. After fitting the mask overher face, she seems a little better, but she’s still struggling.
“Ambulanceis on the way, Mom,” he reassures her.
Theparamedics show up in less than five minutes, and Doug insists on riding withher in the ambulance. “We’ll be right behind you,” Sadie tells her mom,squeezing her hand as she’s wheeled away on a gurney.
Sadierushes into the house, and I follow. She’s standing in the living room, frozenin place, her eyes wide. “I-I need to get her purse…and her meds…they’ll wanther meds…and I don’t know if she has her insurance card,” she rambles.
“Sade.”Her head jerks around and she looks at me like she forgot I existed. Her handis cold when I take it. “Just get her purse and the keys so we can lock up.Anything else she needs we can come back for.”
“Right…right.”She grabs her mom’s stuff and we’re out the door.
“Ican’t believe this is happening. I mean, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Theysaid she’d get worse, but…” She rests her head against the car window as Iguide us onto the highway.
“Itdoesn’t make it any easier,” I tell her, taking her hand. I want to tell hereverything will be all right. I mean, that’s what you’re supposed to say,right? But we both know that may not be true.
Hereyes meet mine and I almost miss her words when she whispers, “I’m glad you’rehere.”
“Iam too. Whatever you need. I’ve got you.”
Wearrive at the hospital and she directs me to the emergency parking lot. Oncewe’re inside, the clerk takes her information and explains that the ambulancehas just arrived. They’ll call us back after they examine her mother.
Watchingher pace the waiting room, I can’t imagine how she feels. I’ve never been inthis position with a family member. The scariest thing I’ve been through likethis was when my friend Landon was hospitalized for severe burns after somepsycho tied him to a tree in the sunlight.
Landonhas a disease that prevents him from being in the sun, even for a few seconds,so it was a close call, but he pulled through. I’ve never had any family other thanmy sister, and if something happened to her, I’d probably never even know. I’ma little out of my element, and I’m not sure what to do, but the fear anddevastation on Sadie’s face make it clear she needs a shoulder to lean on.That’s going to be me.
“SadieBelmont?” a small woman in yellow scrubs asks.
Sadiedarts to her feet. “Yes.”
“Comewith me. I’ll take you back. They have her stabilized.”
